Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 349 : Five Years Later (1)

Chapter 349: Chapter 349 : Five Years Later (1)

The inexorable flow of time often defied comprehension, its cadence as capricious as the wind. Moments could stretch into eternities, while eons could condense into fleeting instances.

This perplexing paradox had lately occupied the thoughts of the Goddess of Fate and Destiny, who often found herself grappling with the elusive nature of time.

Today, the silver-haired goddess embarked on a mission to intervene in the maze of existence, to awaken a strand of fate from its prolonged slumber. Upon a drifting cloud, the silver-haired goddess traversed the celestial expanse, her eyes set on a flowery path that led to a mystical realm known only to the denizens of the Underworld - the Garden of Passing Souls.

A sanctuary of ethereal beauty, the garden was a vibrant tapestry of flora of all sizes and colors, each bloom a manifestation of souls traversing the labyrinth of reincarnation. There were delicate blossoms no larger than her fingertip that dwelled close to the ground, while their towering counterparts stretched towards the heavens at twice the goddess’s height.

These ethereal blossoms represented souls yet to embark on their next journey on the Human Realm, souls pausing amidst their ceaseless cycle of rebirth to share tales of their fleeting incarnations in the mortal realm.

The garden echoed with their hushed voices, a symphony of whispers recounting the joys and sorrows of their experiences.

Sitting among the flowers in lotus position was the Garden Watcher. He was an elderly man clothed in a loose robe, who always had a gentle smile on his face.

Every soul that happened to drop by his garden wanted to share its story, and it was part of his task to listen to them.

"And then, I fell really, really sick from the rain and I died," lamented the soul who just ended its storytelling.

A round of oooohs went through the garden.

"Awww, that was a pity," the Garden Watcher remarked sadly. "Did you at least have fun when you played with your master for one last time?"

"I did!" The soul happily chirped. "I hope that I can meet him again soon. His mother is having a second child. It would be great if I could be born as his brother and sister instead!"

The Garden Watcher reached out to caress the speaking flower’s petals gently and said, "Even if you can’t in the next lifetime, there is always the next, and the next. The intricate bonds between souls are difficult for us to fathom, but fate will bring people together at will."

The Goddess of Fate and Destiny’s arrival was received by the Garden Watcher with a bright smile. Before he said anything to greet the goddess, an orchid with an especially reddish hue spoke up.

"Can I please be the next to share?"

Hearing the familiar voice, the goddess gestured for the Garden Watcher to say anything.

She wanted to hear what the flower had to say.

"Of course!" The Garden Watcher replied enthusiastically. "What do you wish to tell us today?"

"I met him again," the flower said as it swayed shyly on its spot.

"The first time I saw him was when I fell along with other raindrops to moisten the Human Realm.

He extended his hand to catch me, and I died in his hand."

"The second time I saw him was when I wilted from drought.

He poured water on top of me, and when I died nonetheless, he scooped me up and held me to his chest."

"The third time I saw him was after the villagers gathered to cut me off. He put his arms around my fallen trunk and stayed with me until I left."

The flower went on and on about its chance meetings with the mysterious man. Its simple mind failed to realize that some meetings were deliberate and not accidental.

The Goddess of Fate and Destiny rolled with her eyes.

Supreme General Zhang Fengxi had grown more cunning in these past five years, she mused. He had somehow learned to track the Crown Prince’s soul and stalked him the entire time.

Oh well.

The goddess heaved an exasperated sigh.

As long as he did not interfere with fate, she had no reason to reprimand him.

"And then, just now, I saw him again for the ninth time," the flower announced proudly. "I had been wandering alone on the dry land and was running out of time. When I was about to fall down, he appeared out of nowhere. In my dying moment, he held me in his arms and kissed me on the forehead. It was so lovely."

A round of oooohs went through the garden.

"It is so sweet," a flower piped up. "Oh, I wish that there had been someone like that for me."

The other flowers nodded vigorously in unison.

"There will be," the Garden Watcher assured them. "The right person will show up sooner or later, just when the time is right."

He then extended his hand and caressed the orchid that just finished telling its story.

"The man sounds like a very affectionate person. The bond between the two of you must be so strong if he keeps finding you again and again."

That, and obstinacy, the goddess thought to herself.

"Watcher," she called out as she approached the blooming garden.

The Watcher rose to his feet and bowed before the goddess.

"Goddess, it is very nice to meet you again."

"The time has come," she announced as she cast a glance at the reddish orchid. "I am here to pick him up."

"Of course," the Garden Watcher nodded solemnly. He let his hand hover on top of the red orchid. A string of spells spilled from his lips, transforming itself into several ancient characters that engulfed the red orchid. Soon, in place of the red orchid, stood a translucent soul in the form of a small boy.

The small boy opened his almond eyes slowly to see the garden with open eyes. His gaze first drifted to the Garden Watcher, before it landed on the goddess. As he looked at her in this new form, he discovered that she appeared less intimidating.

"Come, Crown Prince," the goddess said as she extended her porcelain hand toward him. "It is time."

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Author’s note :

Author : *hugs cute soul* Baby dragon, Mommy misses you!